Ukraine war: Blinken to hold ministerial meeting for food security

United Nations: Russia's Ukraine invasion could push several developing countries into "desperate hunger situations", warns US Permanent Representative to UN, Linda Thomas- Greenfield.

Following the Ukraine crisis, wheat exports from both nations have been disrupted, landing many nations dependent on them for food grains in crisis.

As a major crisis is in the making, US Secretary of State Antony Blinker is to hold a ministerial-level meeting in the United Nations.

The meeting scheduled on May 18, according to Linda Thomas-Greenfiled, would discuss actions for global food security.

Thomas-Greenfiled, taking over as President of Security Council on Tuesday, told reporters US was ramping up efforts to stop the war creating a food crisis.

"I've seen starvation up close with my own eyes," said Thomas-Greenfiled who was previously the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.

Foreign Ministers from many diverse countries will attend the meeting happening on eve of a Security Council debate on "Conflict and Food Security"

Calling Ukraine the "breadbasket for the developing world", she said Russia blocked ports and destroyed infrastructure and silos creating dire hunger situations in Africa and Middle East.

US Administration is hoping to get India help with its huge stock pile of wheat, nearly 100 million tonne excess of its domestic requirement.

India's potential help to sort out of the crisis figured in the talks between two countries in April.

However, World Trade Organisation's restrictions on exporting food procured by governments at support prices is one of the barriers to India, according to IANS.

With inputs from IANS